Last Thursday, my Dad and I were working on the NYT crossword.
"32 down, 'Nol of Cambodia'. I have no idea." I said.
"That's 'Lon'," He said, filling in the blanks "He was prime minister of Cambodia. Didn't I ever tell you about the time I met Lon Nol?"
So begins another glimpse into the life and times of Grampa John.
"It was in Hawaii and McCain* was throwing Lon Nol a reception and he invited me. Now, McCain loved me, but let me tell you; when he said to be somewhere at 6:30, by God, you better be there at 6:30. He sent a car for me and I think the driver was fresh off a boat from the mainland. He had no idea where we were going. Next thing I know, we're up in the mountains somewhere. I told the driver to turn the car around, I'd direct him back to base and he'd better step on it because we
did not want to be late to the reception. He took me at my word and the next thing I know, we're being pulled over by a motorcycle cop for speeding. This cop looked like something right out of a movie; big fat gut, mirrored sunglasses, cowboy hat. I didn't want this young marine to get in trouble, so I explained to the officer that it was my fault, that we were running late to a reception at McCain's...well, the second I mentioned his name, the cop's attitude completely changed.
'The Admiral's expecting you?' he said, 'Follow me!'
With that, he hopped back on his bike, turned on the siren and lead us, racing through town and the naval base, coming to a wailing halt right in front of McCain's house. Now, the party was taking place in the back yard, but everyone there came running around the house to see what the commotion was all about and what did they see? A police escorting a limo and out of the back pops me.
McCain glared at me and said "By God, John, you do know how to make an entrance."
I like doing crosswords with my Dad.
* Admiral John S. McCain jr. , father of Sen. McCain of AZ.
